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The Newsletter of the Non-Profit Research Organization for the Trucking Industry

Leadership Insights from the ATRI Board: Mike Ludwick

For nearly two decades, ATRI has been annually analyzing trucking industry operational costs to help fleets identify areas for improvement and communicate the true costs of moving freight for our customers. ATRI’s Operational Costs of Trucking study is one of the top downloads from ATRI’s website and it’s not surprising given its widespread use by industry stakeholders from motor carriers, industry suppliers, insurers, bankers, investors, government and of course, the nation’s freight shippers.

This year’s analysis quantified what we all have been experiencing: costs continued to climb during the worst trucking industry recession in history, although we’re starting to see some – albeit slight – improvement in operating margins. With an average cost per mile of $2.336, the industry experienced our highest operating cost to date in ATRI’s annual report. If you exclude fuel, our costs rose by 4.2 percent over last year’s report to $1.854 per mile. 

ATRI’s report also illuminates how the industry is responding to rising costs and stagnant rates, with the largest reduction in freight capacity since the start of the freight recession in 2022. Fleets reduced truck counts by 2.4 percent and left another 10 percent of trucks unseated on average. Other key metrics demonstrating the impact of this prolonged downturn on operations included increases in average truck age and annual mileage, as well as deadhead mileage. Finally, the analysis showed that non-driver staffing levels were cut by 7.8 percent.

Collectively this research delivers tremendous ROI for the industry. But ATRI offers a unique incentive for participation that should encourage more fleets to provide data each year. Participating fleets are given a customized report that plots your costs against an anonymized peer group of fleets from the same size and sector. This level of detailed analysis really drives improvements for participating fleets and it’s why Bison has been an ATRI Ops Costs participant for the past eight years.

If you haven’t seen the 2026 report, then I encourage you to download your free copy from ATRI’s website today and start comparing your costs to the industry’s. And, next year when ATRI issues the call for Ops Costs data, please give serious consideration to participating to take advantage of the customized report while also supporting your industry’s research organization.

Mike Ludwick, President & CEO

Bison Transport

ATRI Report Details Accelerating Costs and Low Profitability Despite Cuts

ATRI has released the 2026 Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking, its flagship benchmarking report.

The industry-average cost to operate a truck in 2025 was $2.336 per mile, 3.4 percent higher than the previous year and the highest per-mile cost in the report’s history. Excluding fuel, costs rose by 4.2 percent to $1.854 per mile. 

Costs were up in all major line-items in 2025, with the largest percentage gains in tolls (13.2%), repair and maintenance (8.6%), driver benefits (6.6%), and tires (6.4%). Only two line-items rose at sub-inflationary rates: fuel and, for the second year in a row, driver pay. Truck and trailer procurement costs varied by fleet size amid high prices and low freight volumes. Small fleets spent less on trucks and trailers in 2025 than in 2024, while truckload fleets with more than 1,000 trucks spent 16.1 percent more. First-quarter 2026 data show a continuation of most 2025 cost trends. [Read More]

If you missed ATRI’s Operational Costs of Trucking Briefing Room webinar, watch the full recording by clicking here.

2024-2025 Annual Change in Average Costs per Mile

ATRI’s Andrew Fain and Jack Spalding Receive Promotions

ATRI recently promoted two team members. Andrew Fain and Jack Spalding have both been promoted to Research Associate.

Andrew joined ATRI as a Research Analyst in 2024. His research focus areas at ATRI include truck parking and managing ATRI’s extensive database of state-specific trucking industry data. Jack joined ATRI as a Research Analyst in 2025, and his research focus areas include GIS analyses of freight mobility and bottleneck identification. Both Andrew and Jack are based in ATRI’s Atlanta office.

ATRI Releases New Truck GPS Data Overview

TechCelerate Now Program Updates Truck Safety Technology Resources and Tools on Website

The TechCelerate Now (TCN) advanced safety technologies program has posted new education and outreach tools on the TCN website. The new resources include updates to the TCN brochures, videos, and an enhanced Return-on Investment (ROI) Calculator – which allows motor carriers and truck drivers to understand what their specific cost and benefit outcomes will be if they are interested in investing in different onboard safety technologies.

The TCN program researches the value proposition of numerous “advanced driver assistance systems” (ADAS), and provides clear, scientific data and information on different advanced safety technologies that can reduce truck-involved crashes, and improve the bottom-line for motor carriers and truck drivers.

The TechCelerate Now program is a government-industry partnership that is bringing together government agencies and trucking industry organizations, including the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, American Trucking Associations’ Technology & Maintenance Council, the American Transportation Research Institute and the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association Foundation.

For more information about these guides and videos from FMCSA’s TechCelerate Now Program, visit TechCelerateNow.org.

For 25 years, ATRI has provided award-winning research to improve the trucking industry’s safety and productivity. Our mission is clear and our dedicated team of research professionals deliver on that mission each and every day. In recognition of all that ATRI does, the following organizations and individuals supported ATRI with a charitable contribution in 2026. (As of 08/03/2026)

A&M Transport

A. Duie Pyle, Inc.

ACT Expo

Alabama Trucking Association

Alaska Trucking Association

Alfie Bingham

American Trucking & Transportation Insurance Co. 

Amy Boerger, RAC Alumni

ArcBest Corporation

Arkansas Trucking Association

Bison Transport

Blake Grolmus

Brett Merritt

Brian Neal

Carla Rose, ATRI Staff

C.H. Robinson Worldwide

Charlene Poe

Chris Denman

Colin Abernathy, RAC Alumni

Cottingham and Butler

CRST

Cummins Inc.

David Britton

Distribution Solutions, Inc.

Erica Denney, RAC Member

Excargo Services, Inc.

Fast Sled Propulsion

FedEx Corporation 

Florida Trucking Association

FreedomTrucks of America, LLC

Freightage

Fullbay, Inc.

Georgia Trucking Association

Great West Casualty Company

Gregg Troian

Guillory Petroleum Transport

Heniff Transportation Systems

Hirschbach 

Indiana Motor Truck Association

Inland Marine Underwriters Association

Iowa Motor Truck Association

James Burg Trucking Company

JB Hunt

Jeremy Reymer, RAC Alumni

Jim Voss

Joe Lombardo

John Brune

John Flannagan, RAC Alumni

Kansas Motor Carriers Association

Kentucky Trucking Association

Kris Terry

Kyle Weaver, RAC Member

Lisa and Rich Bren

Maine Motor Transport Association

Mary Jane Evans

Maryland Motor Truck Association

Michigan Trucking Association

Mike Tunnell, Retired ATRI Staff

Minnesota Trucking Association 

Missouri Trucking Association

Montana Trucking Association

Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc.

Motor Transport Association of CT

Nancy Bendickson

Nathan Meisgeier

National Confection and Snacks Logistics Council

National Tank Truck Carriers

Nationalease

New Mexico Trucking Association

North Carolina Trucking Association Foundation

North Dakota Motor Carriers Association

Ohio Trucking Association

Old Dominion Freight Line

Oregon Trucking Association

Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association

Peter Friedmann

PGT Trucking LLC

Pitt Ohio

Prime, Inc.

R&L Carriers

Rebecca Brewster, ATRI Staff

Rhode Island Trucking Association

Robert Bernatchez

Robert Hanlon

Robert McCann

Roberts Perryman, PC

Ruan Transportation Management Systems

Ryder System Inc.

Shorty and Ro Whittington

South Carolina Trucking Association

Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association

SPG Cargo & Logistics

Steve Wyatt

Stokes Trucking

Texas Trucking Association

The Evans Network of Companies

Tim Kordula, RAC Member

Toledo Trucking Association

Tommy Hodges 

Total Transportation of Mississippi LLC

Towing and Recovery Management Summit

Triple G Express

Trucking Association of New York

UPS

Utah Trucking Association

Virginia Trucking Association

Wisconsin Motor Carriers Association

Wyoming Trucking Association

In Honor of

Kevin Knight

Rebecca Brewster

In Memory of

Don Eaton

Dan Friden

John Groendyke

John Wren

Larry Simmons, Sr.

Russ McKinnon

Whether you make a personal contribution or contribute on behalf of your organization, your financial support will ensure that we can continue to produce award-winning research to support your business and your industry. Please consider adding your name to this list of industry leaders by giving to ATRI today.

ATRI President Rebecca Brewster joins host Christy Choice and Rocco Marrari on Carrier Code Podcast for a discussion on discussion on two of ATRI's most anticipated annual studies, Critical Issues in the Trucking Industry and Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking. Click image above to watch video.

The ATRI Team with the Iowa Motor Truck Association Team at ATRI's June Staff Retreat in Des Moines, IA.

Louisiana Motor Transport Association (LMTA) kicked off its 2026 LMTA Annual Convention with ATRI President Rebecca Brewster delivering the keynote address.

ATRI President Rebecca Brewster joined Matthew Minton, VP North American Surface Transportation, C.H. Robinson, Daniel Hoff, VP government affairs, Transportation Intermediaries Association, and Jim Mullen, president, Truckload Carriers Association, for a conversation on moving the trucking industry forward.

Florida Trucking Association (FTA) President & CEO Scott Perry presented Rebecca Brewster with the FTA President's Award at its 2026 Annual Meeting in recognition of her leadership and contributions to the trucking industry.

ATRI's Carla Rose and Jeff Short with John Corbin, longtime friend of ATRI, at the American Society of Civil Engineers International Conference on Transportation & Development.

Minnesota Trucking Association (MTA) President John Hausladen presented Dan Murray with the MTA Outstanding Service Award at its 94th Annual Conference in recognition of his leadership and contributions to the trucking industry.

Upcoming opportunities to hear the ATRI team talk about the latest research:

August 10: Southeast CMV Safety Summit, Raleigh, NC – Rebecca Brewster

August 10: 2026 Mid America Association of State Transportation Officials (MAASTO) Annual Conference Webinar, Online - Dan Murray

August 12: TRIP Risk Control Workshop, Seattle, WA - Rebecca Brewster

August 13: 2026 Kentucky Trucking Association Annual Membership Conference, Bardstown, KY - Jack Spalding

August 19: 2026 National Tank Truck Carriers Southern Regional Safety and Security Summit, Knoxville, TN - Andrew Fain

August 20: American College of Transportation Attorneys 17th Annual Motor Carrier Industry Meeting, Chicago, IL - Dan Murray

August 27: Western Arkansas Intermodal Authority 2026 Freight Roundtable, Fort Smith, AR - Rebecca Brewster

September 2: Illinois Trucking Association 2026 Annual Meeting and Expo, Bloomington, IL - Rebecca Brewster

September 10: IWLAIC Safety Meeting, Dallas, TX - Rebecca Brewster

September 10: Idaho Trucking Association Annual Convention, McCall, ID - Alex Leslie

September 24: Trucking Association of New York Annual Management Conference, Saratoga Springs, NY - Rebecca Brewster

September 30: National Tank Truck Carriers Tank Truck Week 2026, Oklahoma City, OK - Alex Leslie September

October 5: NationaLease Financial Officers and IT Meeting, Las Vegas, NV - Alex Leslie

October 7: ISAAC Horizon Users Conference, Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, QC - Rebecca Brewster

ATRI's Weekly Key Research Highlights

Each Wednesday, ATRI shares key research findings from one of its studies on social media similar to the one below where we highlighted ATRI's 2026 Top 100 Truck Bottleneck List. Be sure to follow us on LinkedIn to keep up with the latest from ATRI’s research each week.

DID YOU KNOW…Now in its 15th year, ATRI’s annual list of the top 100 truck bottlenecks uses real-world operational data from the nation’s freight trucks to identify where traffic congestion continues to impede the supply chain and the overall economy.

ATRI’s bottleneck analysis utilizes our dataset of truck GPS data, representing location and speed data from hundreds of thousands of commercial trucks across the U.S. We calculate truck speeds and volumes to rank those locations most impactful to trucking operations. But it’s not just trucks stuck in that traffic – ATRI’s list ranks the worst congestion chokepoints for all drivers.

After holding the top ranking 7 years in a row, the George Washington Bridge, which carries I-95 between New York and New Jersey, dropped one spot in ranking – becoming the second most congested truck bottleneck in the country. The 2026 bottleneck list saw a return to Chicago, where the I-294 at I-290 and I-88 interchange is now the top congestion chokepoint in the country, with average rush hour truck speeds of less than 34 mph, a decrease of 5 percent from the year before.

Chicago is no stranger to congestion. When ATRI first started its annual bottleneck analysis, the Jane Byrne Interchange in Chicago was the number one bottleneck for three years in a row. After significant infrastructure investment to improve the Byrne Interchange, that location has now dropped out of the top 25 on ATRI’s annual list and truck speeds saw an improvement of nearly 25% over pre-construction speeds.

Click here to see the full list - ATRI's 2026 Top 100 Truck Bottleneck List.

Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking: 2026 Update

ATRI Truck GPS Data Brochure

Trucking's Rising Insurance Costs: Issues and Opportunities

ATRI's Top 100 Truck Bottleneck List

Trucking Litigation: A Forensic Analysis

Critical Issues in the Trucking Industry - 2026

AMERICAN TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH INSTITUTE | TruckingResearch.org

Atlanta, GA • Minneapolis, MN • Washington, DC

ATRI is the trucking industry’s 501c3 not-for-profit research organization. It is engaged in critical research relating to freight transportation’s essential role in maintaining a safe, secure and efficient transportation system.